Inquest into the Deaths of Seven First Nations Youth: Summary

Inquest into the Deaths of Seven First Nations Youth: Summary

This joint inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths of seven First Nations youth who died under similar circumstances while attending school in Thunder Bay: Reggie Bushie, Jethro Anderson, Jordan Wabasse, Kyle Morriseau, Curran Strang, Paul Panacheese, and Robyn Harper.

The Inquest into the Death of Seven First Nations Youth was originally an inquest into the loss of only one of these students, Reggie Bushie. However, his inquest was stalled in 2008, due to concerns regarding the lack of First Nations representation on jury rolls. NAN legally pursued this issue to the Court of Appeal, and politically advocated for solutions with the Ontario government. In response, Justice Frank Iacobucci was appointed to review the issue of First Nations representation on jury rolls.

The Iacobucci Report, and the resulting Iacobucci Implementation Committee, Debwewin, took up the views of the First Nations community members who had requested a way to volunteer for Coroner’s Inquest juries. Ontario passed a regulation to allow First Nations people living on reserve to volunteer, and the Volunteer Jury Initiative began.

While this work on jury composition was occurring, in May 2012, NAN wrote to the Chief Coroner with an application to hold a Joint Inquest into the Deaths of all Seven Youths. This application was granted, and NAN applied for standing at this Joint Inquest.

In April, a hearing was held with regard to the scope of the Inquest. Nishnawbe Aski Nation, represented by lawyers Julian Falconer and Meaghan Daniel and Lakehead Law student Samantha Ramage, was in attendance at the hearing to argue that the scope should be expanded to include issues such as the racism faced by the youth, treaty and constitutional obligations held by the Federal government, and the quality of the Thunder Bay Police Service’s investigation into their disappearances.

The Inquest is the first inquest to go forward using the First Nations volunteer juror list. Lawyers Julian Falconer and Meaghan Daniel of Falconers LLP are appearing on behalf of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, the political territorial organization representing the youth’s communities of origin.